Air-valve for steam-radiators.



W. M. FULTON.

AIR VALVE FOR STEAM RADIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.12,1910.

1,04%,OQO Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

- of Knoxville, Tennessee,

I tions whereby air is from the radiator in air to the radiator or, may cause the valve for Steam-Radiators,

UNITED STATES OF'MAINE.

AIR-'VALVE ronsrnm-mm'ronss Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 12,1910. Serial No. 554,989.

Patented Nov.

Be it known that I, WESTON M. FULTON, have invented new Improvements in Air-Valves which invention is fully set forth in the following specification. ,This invention relates to valves and particularly to air valves for steam radiators and has for its object to provide an automatic valve of the above kind which is positive in action and reliable under all condipermitted to escape advance of the enter: ing steam, while the steam and water are prevented from escaping; and also to rovide a valve combining these capabilities and the further capability of venting air from the radiator, but preventing return of when the temperature of and useful the latter falls. In radiator air valves, it is usual to close the valve opening by means of a valve which is moved into seating position by the expansion of a rodor by the movement of 9. diaphragm operated by the expansion-of a fluid. In either form of such valves, means are necessary to protect the valve against the occasioiial excessive force of expansion, of the rod or diaphragm; otherwise' uildue pressure ofj-the valve on its ,seat may occur stem to buckle or strain some of the valve parts so that it cannot operate correctly at the moderate temperature for which it. was originally adjusted. 0

It is the primary object of my invention toovercome this objection and to providean air valve in which the expanding element for causing the seating of the valve always ,exerts a predetermined and substantially uniform maximumrpressure for all temperat ures of the steam in the radiator thereby protecting the valve parts from injury due to undue pressure on the valve and avo dmg special mechanical constructions for rotecting the valve. To aco nplish this ob ect, "I provide within the usual air valve casing a collapsible and expansible vessel in which is placed'a small quantity of liquld sucli as water, and a gas, such as air, hermetically sealed-therein. The combined. pressure of the water vapor and air'in the-vessel should be materially lowerthan atmospheric pres pressure amounts to with more than :this maximum .whatever the temperature of the sure at jordinary temperatures and at thetemperature of steam as used in steam heating the excess of fluid pressure inside the vessel shall have a slight but practically constant excess of pressure over that on the exterior walls of the vessel. This is readily accomplished at the time of sealing the vessel after troducing the'liquid by rarefy ng the air by pumping out a material part thereof from the vessel at the ordinary room temperature.

The quantity of water'in the vessel is sufficient to insure water in liquid form in the vessel when exposed to the steam from the radiator. I prefer this combination of fluids because, the-expansive force of water vapor and air inside the vessel will always bear an approximately constant ratio to the pressure of the steam on the outside of the vessel and within the valve casing. For example,'suppose that a maximum per square inch is desired-on the movable end of the collapsible and expansible vessel to act on the valve when steam is turned on to theradiator and the steam happens to be .at 213. F. Thewater vapor pressure in the vessel at this temperature of 213 F., the assumed temperature, will be 15 pounds per square inch, which with the 5 pounds of air 20 pounds. per square inch tending to. expand the vessel. The steam 313213 F. outside the expansible and collapsible vessel and within the valve casing exerts a pressure of 15 inch to .collapse .the therefore an the vessel of 5 pounds per square inch.- This is substantially the maximum pressure for a vessel filled under the conditions named and is practically the same for all temperatures met with in steam radiator heating. It is obvious that thevalvewhich is seated by the expansion of the expansible member Wlll not be pressed against its seat pressure, steam in the radiator. While I have mentioned \5 pounds pressure, per square inch as a convenient maximumfor the vessel, yet any predetermined pressurefnmy be selected for the purpose of meeting varying conditions vessel. There is of steam heating. Instead of waterand its.

vapor, I may pounds per squareefiective 'force to. expand 0 run FULTON COMPANY,

pressure 0f15 pounds l 05 use any other volatile liquid,

however, prefer to provided that its vapor tension approximats'that of the steam used in heating. I, use water for obvious reasons of economy and because it is identical with the heating fluid used inthe radiators.

I may employ this same principle of operation in any type of air valve attached to a 1 is a valve casing provlded at or near its lower portion with a nipple 3. for connecting the casing with the space in a radiator not shown. To the central part of this casing is securedby aid of a ledge 22 an inverte collapsible and expansible vessel 21 making a tight connection therewith. Mounted on the movable end wall 23 is a vent tube 13 having a vent opening 15. This tube also serves as a loose guide for a square valve stem 12 mounted on an'inverted bell float 11.

be a suitable fluid pressure 'at room temperature port 10.

VV-ithin the valve casing rugated m ember 21 is located a corrugated collapsible and expansible vessel 5 provided with rigid end walls 6, 7 the top wall being movable and the bottom wall being stationary and supported in any suitable manner as by'ribs 8 fast to the wall 1 of the casing. In order to limit the downward movement of the upper wall 6 when the vessel. collapses, a stop or limiting member 9, is preferably employed. Within the vessel 5 is placed a volatile liquid f whose vapor tension is below atmospher c pressure at ordinary temperatures but is substantially equal to said pressure at the temperature of steam. For this purpose, water has been found to though other fluids are no doubt available to meet the requirements. The remaining' space within the vessel is filled with an inertgas, such as air, the pressure of which at ordinary temperatures is may vary below atmosphericpressure and depending on the pressure desired as the maximum for closing the valve. To guide and at times to act as a support for the bell 11, a-support 10 is mounted on the movable end wall 6. A closure .24 having a vent 4 is preferably provided in connection with the outer upper wall of easing 1 to protect the working arts. j p I With the parts in position as shown in the figure, the valve .is assumedto be in normal position and ready to operate to ventair The vessel'5 is under external atmospheric when steam is turned on the cold radiator.

and in collapsed position. Float ll'rests on its su Vessel 21 is acting through t e -the steam reaches the valve 1 and below the cor-" .,liquid nary atmospheric temperatures less resiliency of its walls to press the valve seat in guide 13 against the end of the valve stem 12 to close the vent 15. When steam is turned on, the air in the radiator is forced forward under more or less pressure, enters the valve casin through connection 3 and extends the wall of vessel 21 upward, therebylifting the valve seat oif the valve'and permits the air to escape. In case water is present in the radiator and enters the valve casing, the float raises as previously ex plained and closes the valve opening. When casing the heat thereof acts on vessel 5 in the manner above described to finally maintain the vent opening 11 closed. Incase the steam pressure falls in the system, air does not now enter the radiator because the contractile force acting through the end wall 23 of vessel 21 overcomes steam pressure in the valve cas= ing, thereby causing the valve seat in guide 13 to press onand follow the valve stem to its initial position.

It will be apparent from this description thata considerable vacuum can be main? t-ained in the system, provided theipe connections are tight whereby circu at'ion of vapor through the radiators at a temperature below that of boiling water may be maintained, thus prolonging the eflicient action of the steam generating boiler when the supply of fuel has been partly consumed.

What is claimed is 1. In an air valve for steam radiators, a chamber open to the steam space of the radiator and comprising a rigid portion and a corrugated collapsible and expansible ves-' sel portion, a valve seat. on said yielding portlon,

end wall, and a valve loosely mounted between themovable end walls of said vessels and normally held in seated position by the same. Y v 2. In an air valve for steam radiators, a chamber open to the steam space of a radiator and comprisin a rigid portion and a corrugated collapsi 1e and expans'ible vessel portion, a valve seat on said yielding portion, a collapsible and ex ansible thermosensltive vessel within said chamber and a collapsible and expansible thermosens1tive vessel within said chamber and .having a stationary end wall anda movable having a stationary end wall and a'movable end wall, a valve provided with a float loosely mounted between the movable end walls of said vessels and normally held in seated position by the same.

3. In an air valve for steam'radiators, a chamber open to the steam space of a radiator and comprising a rigid portion and a collapsible and ex ansible portion, a valve seaton said yielding portion, a collapsible and expansible vessel containing a volatile and a gas under a pressure at ordithan at- "mospheric pressure, said vessel having a Staspecificat-ion in the presence of i zw o subtionary end Wall and 'a movable end wall, scribing witnesses. and a valve loosely mounted between the movable end Walls of said yielding portions S U 5' and normally held in seated position by the Witnesses; i

same. M. L. JONEs,

' In testimony whe 'eof I have signed this E. J. WYATT. 

